The heroes of Greek Independence. One of the most celebrated collections of illustrations relating to the great events during the long Greek War of Independence (1820-1829), with fine portraits of the principal Greek heroes of the time.

Known primarily for his large-scale paintings of battles, von Hess gained valuable insight into his subject having joined the staff of General Wrede, commander of the Bavarian army, during the Napeolonic Wars. In 1833, after a period spent in Italy, Hess (1792-1871), at the request of Ludwig I of Bavaria, accompanied the 18-year old Prince Otto of Bavaria on his journey to Greece to become the first King of the newly independent nation. Whilst in Athens von Hess gathered material for pictures of the Greek War of Independence, the sketches of which were lodged at the Pinakothek in Munich.

First edition. Folio (58 x 43.5 cm), lithographed title (a little paper adhesion) and 39 tinted lithographs by J.B. Kuhn after von Hess, within decorative sepia borders with captions in Greek, French, German and English, later cloth preserving original upper cloth cover.